Chapter Four-Dyin' Ain't So Bad
Training was difficult with the cacophony of screaming in the background.
"An immersive training experience," Joaquin had called it after Julissa's teeth grazed my neck for the third time. "The battlefield is filled with extraneous sound. You must be able to keep your focus."
But with every shriek and wail, my head snapped towards the barn. It was supremely distracting.
"Pitiful," Joaquin spat as Sammi knocked me to the floor. She ground her heel into my chest, coating me with dirt and grime. Great. So much for my new shirt.
"Let's hope our new recruit can handle herself better than you can, querida."
I grumbled as Sammi removed her foot. I sat up, dusting as much of the filth off my top as I could.
I was granted a small mercy, as Joaquin ended training early and allowed us to feed. He returned us to the stable and informed us that there would be no training tomorrow as he had to run an errand for Maria. Gathering more humans for us and the new recruit, I figured. Either way, a break from Joaquin seemed to be the greatest gift I'd ever received. I celebrated the respite from fighting, grabbing Clyde by the hands with glee and dancing all night, abandoning my human hangups with the art. Dancing was less embarrassing when you didn't trip over your own feet or step on others. But as the morning came and the day dragged on, I found myself just as unhappy as I'd been earlier. I tried to read, but my mind couldn't focus on the words with the constant barrage of screaming. I was feeling antsy, my skin crawling with anxiety about the newborn, but pacing around the stable didn't alleviate any of my stress. If anything, I seemed to exasperate the trio more. Sammi rolled her eyes every time I walked past her. I attempted to busy myself with any sort of activity, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't tear my mind away from the screaming in the barn.
"How much longer," I groaned, collapsing onto the ground and dropping my head into my hands, my ears ringing from the shrill sound.
"Not too long now," said Clyde. "Change usually takes about three days, and the new recruit's been under two and a half days now."
"I don't think I can take much more of this." I bemoaned, tangling my hands in my hair.
"Why are you whining so much, you were just as loud," Sammi muttered. She was laying on her back in a pile of straw, tossing a brick she'd dug up in the air. Bits of it crumbled every time it landed in her open hand.
"Well, I apologize cause this is torturous."
I walked over to my corner and unearthed my book, hoping my second chance at distraction would prove more fruitful. But though I did my best to focus on Little Women, to center all my mental energy on working through the translation, it was just the same as before. My mind kept getting pulled towards the barn. I pushed myself to finish the chapter, then put the book back in my little nook with an exasperated huff. I returned to wandering around the stable aimlessly. Sammi watched me meander with narrowed eyes.
"God, you're so weak. Everything bothers you. Just give it a rest."
"I don't know how nothing bothers you," I retorted.
"Actually, you!" Sammi jumped to her feet with a snarl. "You, bother me! You, with your long hair and your holier-than-thou attitude and your stupid insistence on clinging to humanity. You think you've got everyone wrapped around your perfect little finger, but wake up querida," she mocked, "you're not special. You're just another bloodthirsty soldier. Replaceable."
Sammi launched herself at me with a roar. I ducked out of her line of attack, and Sammi landed on all fours, spinning around to growl at me. My body responded to the taunt, crouching before I made the conscious decision to fight. Sammi charged me, but I thrust my arm out to block her. I cast her aside, and she flew across the stable. She fell to the ground and rolled to a stop by the stable door.
"Guys, watch it!" Clyde shouted. "You're gonna bring down the stable!"
Sammi scrambled to her feet and charged at me again, snapping her teeth wildly. But I was prepared for her. I saw the direction she was heading, and-annoyed as I was-I had enough presence of mind to remember what I had observed about Sammi.
She always attacked from her right.
Sammi lunged for my left arm, but I anticipated her attack, and as soon as her fingers encircled my wrist, I secured my hand on top of hers and swung her arm backwards, twisting it and forcing Sammi to bend over. My other hand gripped Sammi's wrist tightly, applying more pressure till she fell to her knees. I stomped on her back, pushing her into the ground. She was yelling curses and abuse beneath me, squirming and writhing in fruitless attempts to escape my hold. Her insults were infuriating, and I couldn't stop myself from taking advantage of her weakness to tear her arm off. I tossed it away, noting absently that Julissa caught the limb. I removed my foot from Sammi's back to give her a firm kick in the side, and she curled into herself, whimpering.
"Okay, okay, enough!" Clyde bellowed. He stood between Sammi and I with arms outstretched. Julissa hurried over with the limb and nudged Sammi to a seating position so she could attach it.
This was the perfect moment, I realized with a start. Joaquin was gone. I'd beaten Sammi. It wouldn't take much for me to escape. I probably wouldn't even have to fight Clyde and Julissa, if I ran right now-
Of course, that was the exact point when the new recruit's screams reached an ear-piercing pitch, and then suddenly quieted.
Silence fell among us as well. We all cocked our heads, attention drawn to the abruptly tranquil barn.
"Guess they're up," Clyde commented dryly.
Damn.
The atmosphere was tense as we waited for Joaquin to bring the new recruit. Sammi was sitting as far away from me as possible in the stable, withdrawn and uncharacteristically taciturn. Julissa had finished braiding her cloth ribbons into an intricate pattern. She laid the plait on her wrist, measuring it, then held it out to Sammi. The brunette gave a near imperceptible shake of her head. Julissa shrugged and tied the bracelet around her wrist, using her teeth to snip the ends.
As the sound of footsteps drew nearer-two sets, one lighter than the other-we all rose to our feet. The stable door swung open.
"This is Teresa," Joaquin said as he shoved the woman into the stable. I flinched at the sudden déjà vu. " Answer her questions. No one leaves. Keep Bella here. I'll be back later for training."
As soon as Teresa entered the stable, I instinctually reacted, shifting into a defensive crouch at the first sight of her. Startling crimson eyes, a primal part of me whispered. Strong, young, dangerous.
Teresa had moved into a protective stance as well, much like I had that first night. I watched her take in our eyes and scars with visible panic. Her crouch was also unbalanced, I noticed, weight leaning to her right. Was that what I looked like when I first arrived? She seemed to be more a tottering baby lamb than a vicious opponent. There was no reason to be scared of her. I suppressed my instincts, regaining control of my body to stand calmly. Clyde had recovered as well, and was reassuring Sammi and Julissa, just as he had done before. It was surreal.
Teresa wasn't relaxing. Her eyes rapidly shifted between the four of us. She seemed unaware of the persistent growl emitting from her chest.
"¿Qué es esto?" Teresa demanded, a tremble in her voice.
Julissa blinked in surprise, and then stepped forward with exuberance. She began trilling in Spanish, gesturing to the rest of us now and then. I was thankful for my recent study of Little Women.
Teresa was not receptive to Julissa's explanation. I watched her raise a shaky hand to cross herself, and then clutch the simple wooden rosary that hung around her neck. It cracked beneath her fingers, but Teresa didn't seem aware of the damage.
"No, no, no.." she kept repeating.
Julissa sighed, and tried a new line of conversation, but it didn't pacify Teresa. I felt for her. She was a beautiful woman, with high cheekbones, a turned-up nose, and plump lips. There was an air of maturity about her. She was clearly older than us, her figure fuller than the rest of us girls, though her face was smooth, free of any age lines. I wondered if she left behind a family. I could picture a handsome husband and a cherubic child, their faces drawn with worry over Teresa. But if she came from the neighborhood by the battle, I registered with chagrin, her family may have been slaughtered. And, I was reluctant to admit, most likely by one of us.
Teresa raised a hand to her head, and gasped. She ran her fingers through the glossy, tight curls with agitation.
"Where is my hair?" she asked in horror.
Julissa winced. "Maria cuts all of ours. She says it's weakness."
"Why is her's long?" Teresa accused, jabbing a finger at me.
Julissa glanced back at me, envy coloring her face. "She got lucky. She was already changing by the time she got to Maria. No chance to cut it."
I felt suddenly self-conscious, and tucked my hair behind my ears.
Julissa continued to explain things to Teresa in Spanish. Eventually, she calmed her down enough for Teresa to move out of her crouch. Julissa guided her to the ground to sit with the rest of us, just as Clyde had done for me before. Teresa asked few questions, but Julissa answered them all as best she could. She only hesitated when Teresa asked about Joaquin.
"We don't really know much about him. I think he may have been a teacher? Clyde," Julissa said switching back to English, "what do you know about Joaquin? You said he mentioned being a teacher once."
"Yeah," Clyde scoffed. "He mentioned how much better behaved I was than his former students. That I actually listened to him, like I had a choice. I think he worked at like a reform school or something. A disciplinary place for troubled youth."
"Maybe military school," Sammi said with a wry smirk.
"It may have been." Clyde shrugged. "I don't know. Joaquin doesn't really talk much about his life before Maria. All I know is he's been with her a long time, like maybe two or three years? He's never really said. Too focused on whipping us into shape."
Teresa's questions petered out quickly after that. Despite Julissa's success at coaxing her to the ground, Teresa was still jittery. Her head snapped at every sound. She couldn't keep eye focus with any of us. She'd let go of her rosary, once she noticed that she was pulverizing it with her grip, and was wringing her hands. Julissa tried to engage Teresa in conversation, but she was no longer in the mood to speak. The only sounds that came from her were intermittent sobs.
Joaquin returned hours later, just as Teresa was becoming increasingly antsy. It was a near replica of my first day of training, only I was called forward for demonstrations now. When Joaquin split us up to practice the first exercise, I was paired with Teresa. She was absolutely terrified by the violence, and hesitated to attack. Only base instinct compelled her to protect herself from my lunges with shoddy defensive maneuvers. I was defeating her easily, until Joaquin strode by. A few harsh words from him, and suddenly Teresa became a dangerous opponent. She sparred with unparalleled viciousness, though she seemed to recoil from her own ferocity. After pushing me down to the ground, her hands on either side of my head, clutching fistfuls of my hair mixed with dirt and straw, Teresa jerked back, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Her entire body trembled, and she shook throughout her defensive attempt. But as soon as she switched to offense, the rage returned.
Joaquin picked up on Teresa's jealous looks and actions towards my hair, and encouraged her to use it against me. Even when I tied it up with he hair tie Maria had given me, she would pull on my ponytail, yanking me to the ground or holding me up in the air by my hair. Joaquin would only watch and smile with glee.
With the addition of Teresa, we conquered several more covens. We always emerged victorious, but each battle left its mark on one of us. I had a new scar on my shoulder from when an enraged vampire launched themselves at me. Clyde had wrestled that vampire off of me, and together we had finished him off. Clyde himself had almost lost three of his fingers off his right hand at our most recent battle. Luckily, we'd managed to scavenge them before Joaquin had tossed them into the fire, but now Clyde's right hand displayed an interesting patten of interlocking crescents.
Three and a half weeks after Teresa joined us, there were new screams from the barn. The newest recruit was a man, Derek, with light brown hair shaved in a buzzcut. He was the tallest of us all, with broad, imposing shoulders. It had taken several hours for any of us to calm down in his presence, his strength was palpable. He was rough in training, and Joaquin had had to order him more than once to not bite or remove a limb in practice. I had never been more thankful for Joaquin's gift than when Derek's teeth sliced through my neck. One word, and he paused mid-bite. It was agony for a moment, as Derek froze with the tips of his teeth buried in my neck, but I breathed a sigh of relief as Joaquin ordered him off of me. I looked for weaknesses or habits in Derek's fighting, but he was just so damn strong, every move I made was useless. If he got his hands on me, I would lose. I'd have to be more cunning in my escape. I devoted hours to plotting out different strategies and routes. While the others would play games, I would sit and stare at the walls, imagining and perfecting different scenarios. Sometimes I'd grab a book and pretend to read, but I'd just stare at the pages as my mind explored getaway possibilities.
Unfortunately, Maria and Joaquin didn't give me much time to ponder my great escape. They were thrilled by Derek's brute strength, and had us out nearly every night patrolling. At least, that was the reason they gave. To me, it seemed like we were purposefully seeking out covens to attack. We encountered few other vampires on these patrols, just a lone man one night and a mated pair a few nights later. Yet, Maria said they were enemies and so we decimated them. I attempted to raise my concerns with my cohort, but they either didn't see the pattern or chose to ignore it.
"These people could be innocent," I tried to explain. "I mean, what sort of army is one guy? I don't think they're actually trying to fight us or steal our blood!"
"No one's innocent," Sammi sneered. "Not in this world. And that "one guy" could be a spy."
"Sammi's got a point," said Clyde. "Maria says some covens do that, send a single vamp off to gather intel before battle. In that case, we're just...taking a proactive stance. Striking first before they have the chance to. But maybe we can persuade Maria to try interrogation before attacking outright next time," he added after seeing my concerned face, puffed up and prepared to argue. "Get Joaquin to force them to tell the truth."
It was a start.
With every skirmish, we pushed further out into the region. Maria led us to the far edges of our domain, scoping out any trespassers. I couldn't believe that all this land was actually ours, we were so far from base. I wondered if we truly owned this land, or if Maria had exaggerated our claim so we had an excuse to fight those we came across. But after those first few battles, we didn't run into any other vampires. Nearly two weeks passed of these regular "patrols" without an encounter before Maria relented and stopped the excursions.
But only a couple of peaceful nights later, Maria returned to the stable, her eyes gleaming with the ambitious fire of war.
"There is a coven encroaching on our territory," she began. "They've claimed the valley just outside of our southern border. But they are small, weak. A group of only three, two women and a man. Nothing compared to us, my faithful soldiers."
"We can take them!" Sammi growled.
"I know we can. We will conquer this minuscule coven that has dared to move on our land, and we will send a message to all that we are powerful. We will gain control over the valley, and expand our reach over this region!"
As soon as the first stars dotted the sky, Maria ushered us out of the stable. She directed us towards a different route than the one we had used for patrols. We approached the valley from the mountains, in order to utilize the higher ground. As confident as Maria was in our victory, she knew an assault from above would prove even more formidable.
"Our enemies sit below," Maria spoke in a hush, her voice barely audible. "I will draw their attention. Wait for my signal to proceed. Here," she beckoned to us, "come and see our foes."
We crept forward to the edge of the cliff. I peered down into the valley and did a double-take.
There were fires, several of them, already lit and casting the valley in an orange glow. Three vampires stood in front of the flames, the two women and the man that Maria had described to us back at base. But behind them stood a dozen vampires, each with blazing red eyes and the build of football players. I counted five more behind the first line, huddled in a tight circle, their bodies facing outward, prepared for an attack.
I looked back at Maria, stunned that she would lead us into such certain defeat, but she was grinning with smug cockiness.
"You see? An easy victory. We will feed well tonight in celebration."
The others bared their teeth in excitement, but all I could do was stand frozen in fear. I couldn't understand it. Didn't they see what I saw? Didn't they know the danger we were in?
"You there," Maria called, stepping down into the valley. "What is your business in this area?"
"We're merely traveling. Do you claim this land?" the smaller of the women asked in an airy soprano voice.
"Indeed I do," Maria sneered.
"Our apologies," the second woman spoke up. "We didn't know this land belonged to any coven. We mean no offense."
My eyes narrowed. This group was obviously prepared to fight. Why were they lying?
"I'm not one for mercy," threatened Maria.
She raised her right arm into the air and curled her fingers into a fist. That was our signal to move forward, but not attack. We emerged from the shadow of the mountain, and fell into formation behind Maria. The three vampires in front of the flames quivered at the sight of us. But the vampires behind them crouched into positions I knew all too well from training. I looked around to see if anyone else was worried, but all of my cohort was oblivious to the display of aggression. Instead, they appeared even more eager for battle. Sammi even licked her lips in anticipation.
Nothing made sense. This wasn't some small, feeble coven of three, even if they were attempting to act as one. This was a powerful army, far stronger in numbers than us, and seemingly invisible to all but me. We had entered a battle we couldn't win.
Oh crap.
"It's a trap," I whispered, horror-stricken.
Maria's head snapped towards me, incredulous.
"It's a trap," I repeated.
Maria's brow furrowed. She glanced from me to Joaquin, and then back out at the coven. Her eyes widened and she inhaled sharply.
"Retreat! Re-"
Her words were cut off as the vampires charged. Maria fell on her back, knocked down by a towering vampire dressed all in black. She lay there, bewildered, clawing at her attacker. Most of her jabs scratched ineffectually at air, but one caught the man on his ear, and he howled in pain. Maria's eyebrows shot up on her forehead, and she swung her arm again in the same place.
We all recoiled in shock at the sight of Maria fighting. None of us had ever seen her lift a finger in battle. Even in training, she would merely direct the sparring, never take part in it herself. But there was little time to gawk at the scuffle as the rest of the first line of vampires descended on us.
The burliest of the vampires set his sights on Derek. He tackled Derek from his side, their bodies forming a deep crater as they collided with the ground in a clap of thunder. Derek roared, the sound reverberating off the mountains, until it halted with a grating screech. The burly vampire tossed Derek's head out of the ditch. I scurried back as it rolled towards me, my breaths coming faster. I couldn't believe it. The strongest of us all, the one I had so been worried about evading, taken down like he was nothing.
I heard movement behind me, and swung around in time to see another muscular vampire, tall and wide like a bodybuilder, racing towards me. Fear coursed through me, and my instincts were screaming at me to run and protect myself. I ducked low to the ground as the vampire's right arm reached out for me, sailing just inches above my head. Surprise flashed across his face, and then was replaced with unease as I placed my hands on the ground and swung my legs to the side in a precise slice, swiping the vampire's feet out from under him. He landed on his back with a resounding thump, and I wasted no time in straddling him, pinning him with my weight and locking my legs to hold him tight. I wrenched his arms away quickly before he could grab me, then lowered my face to his neck and tore his head away with a rough bite.
I raised my head, teeth dripping with venom, to see Clyde staring at me in wonder. He started to walk towards me, lips curling into a slow smile despite the carnage surrounding us. But I was staring at him in terror.
One of the enemy vampires was approaching Clyde with a malicious glint in his eye. And Clyde couldn't see him at all.
"Clyde!" I called in warning, rising to my feet and reaching my hand out towards him.
He gave me an odd look, and opened his mouth to speak.
But I'll never know what Clyde was going to say to me.
The vampire leapt at Clyde, wrapping his hands around my friend's neck, and used the momentum from his jump to rip Clyde's head from his shoulders. He landed in a deep crouch, straightened, and immediately began racing towards one of the bonfires, Clyde's sandy hair grasped in his fist. He slung Clyde's head into the flames, and I watched, helpless and devastated, as the half-smile still etched upon his face melted into oblivion.
"Clyde!" I cried in despair, my voice breaking.
I wanted to fall to my knees. I wanted to bury myself in the dirt and let the world forget me. I wanted to cry and rant and rave and pray that some heavenly figure, if there was such a thing, would look down on me in mercy and grant me the cathartic release of tears so I could properly mourn my friend.
Instead, I was knocked to the ground by an enemy blow, my screams rushing out of me with all of my air. Strong arms wrapped around me, squeezing and crushing. I rapped my fists against my attacker's back, clawed my nails against his skin. I tried pushing against my attacker, but his grip on me was too tight and he didn't budge. I started flailing my legs wildly, hoping something would give. Luckily, the vampire I was fighting was a man, and my kick found purchase with a very sensitive area. The vampire yowled, releasing me as he doubled over in pain. I lifted my leg in the air with a fan-kick and-in a move I never could've done while human-brought my heel down with a full force strike on the vampire's exposed neck. His head dropped unceremoniously to the ground. I scooped it up and hurled it at the nearest fire. Sparks flew as the colors shifted to purple and a sickly smell pervaded the air.
Some of the embers from the fire landed near the vampires in the circular formation. One of the vampires in the circle shifted his stance, and as he moved I caught a glimpse inside the circle. There was a young girl standing in the center, barely older than a child, concentrating intensely. With a jolt, I realized the vampires in the circle were protecting her. If this tiny girl had powerful bodyguards, she had to be important. She had to be the one behind the invisibility. She was the reason Clyde was dead. My mouth curved into a viscous snarl as a determined growl rose in my chest. I was the only one who could see the girl. I had to take her down.
I charged the circle with resolve. Several vampires attempted to stop me, but I evaded them with deft twists and turns. I struck at anyone who came near me with my nails, aiming for the eyes when I could. I could see that the vampires in the circle were preparing for me, though obviously unnerved by my unexpected awareness of them. A few of them seemed anxious to run forward and block me, and a series of uneasy glances passed among the bodyguards. But they held fast, dedicated to their duties as protectors.
They were too strong for me. I knew that looking at them. The moment I struck, I'd have five vampires swarming to pulverize me. I'd have to be smarter with my attack.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted one of the front line vampires that I'd previously eluded darting towards me.
Perfect.
I let him get close, feigning ignorance of his approach. As soon as he was in striking distance, I quickly changed directions. I met the vampire head-on, encircling my arms around him in a secure grip. I pushed him forward, meeting resistance as he dragged his heels in the soil. I grunted, and released one of my arms to press down on his shoulder. With all my strength, I forced him to his knees. The vampire fell forward, his hands bracing himself. I stepped on the vampire's back, and used the extra leverage to propel myself up and over the defensive circle, landing directly behind the young girl. My hands shot out to grab her neck, and before any of her bodyguards could respond, I snapped her head off with a resolute twist.
Gasps echoed in the valley. With the girl incapacitated, whatever spell she had cast disappeared. Everyone could finally see our adversaries as clearly as I could.
The gasps morphed into menacing growls, and the air was swiftly filled with the gnashing of teeth and the metallic clamor of vampiric limb removal. I defended myself as the girl's bodyguards whirled to face me. Their massive arms shot out at me, their meaty fingers attempting to seize the girl's head, which I clutched close to my chest. I was preparing to barrel through the enclosing crowd, when the two vampires in front of me were knocked aside. I was stunned to see Maria had been the one to push them away.
"Give me that," Maria snapped. She snatched the girl's head out of my hands and turned tail "Let's go!"
I followed Maria as she snaked through the valley, avoiding confrontation as best we could. It was absolute chaos, even more so when Maria chucked the girl's head into one of the bonfires, further enraging the enemy coven who howled and spat as they chased us. We spotted Joaquin standing over the original three vampires, ordering them to kill each other. Maria took hold of Joaquin's sleeve as we came upon him and gave it a tug.
"Enough. Call over whoever's left. We're getting out of here."
Joaquin nodded his assent. He started calling out all of our names. A stabbing pain ran through my chest as Joaquin hollered for Clyde.
Only Sammi and Julissa responded to the summons.
Maria swore as we dodged attack after attack. Joaquin warded them off with his words as best as he could, but he was off-kilter and unfocused, and with every vampire that he dispatched, another seemed to take its place. Sammi and Julissa were both nursing injuries-Sammi carried her detached left arm in her right hand and Julissa's leg was twisted and covered in nasty bites-but there was no time to stop and focus on healing. Sammi beat at the aggressive vampires with her limb as if it were a billy club.
Maria sniffed the air and made a rapid change of direction. "This way! Stay close!"
We trailed Maria, matching her step for step. She was pushing herself for speed, knowing she couldn't outrun the newborns from the valley, and was relying on her evasive maneuvers and confusing route to throw the army off our track. I couldn't make sense of her twists and turns, but Maria seemed to know where she was going. The air took on a musty tinge that soon became overwhelmed with the scent of fish. Maria's lips spread into a broad smile as we reached the banks of a river.
"Quickly! Into the water! Do not surface until I do!"
She dove into the river, still graceful even given the baleful circumstances, and we all jumped in after her. The water was murky and muffled the surface sounds. We moved in smooth undulations, cautious of any splashes that would give our location away to the enemy coven. The fish gave us a wide berth as we swam by them. We swam low, our stomachs nearly grazing the riverbed, following the flow of the river for hours. It was uncomfortable, not breathing, but somehow soothing to be rocked by the current. I kept my mind focused on Maria and the river, pulling it back every time it dared stray back to the valley and the horrific battle.
Out of nowhere, Maria began to kick upwards. We followed her up and out of the water, onto the riverbank, our waterlogged clothing leaving dark patches on the ground . I twisted my ponytail, ringing out what river water I could, and pulled a clump of algae out of the tangled tresses.
Maria glanced back over her shoulder, scanning the landscape for any sign we had been followed.
"The water should help with our scent," she said. "But let's not give them any time to catch a new trail."
With that, Maria took off again, this time on land. There was a sense of urgency in her running, separate from her concern over the enemy coven. She kept glimpsing up at the lightening, early morning sky, wary of impending sunlight that would reveal our existence. She kept us to the shadows as much as possible, running under the cover of mountains and trees. Maria also avoided populated areas, conscious of my, Sammi, and Julissa's thirst which, I was reluctant to note, was growing in need.
Just as sunbeams began to dance off our skin, the environment grew familiar. I recognized the scattering of buildings, the weeds and dried-out plants, the smell of decaying wood and the faded sweet scents of my cohort. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the last remnants of Clyde's ocean air scent. We were approaching the farm.
Maria was gracious enough to let us stop at the shed, but she seemed preoccupied as she threw open the door. Though I was consumed by bloodlust as I fed, afterwards I caught sight of Maria, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She watched us with pursed lips and a brewing storm behind her maroon eyes. Something seemed to snap inside her and she exploded.
"Carajo! This is ridiculous! I can't do this anymore! Joaquin, watch over them while I'm gone."
"What? Wait, where are you going?"
There was a faraway look in Maria's eyes. "To find someone I lost."
She gave no further explanation, simply spinning on her heel and racing away, leaving behind a cloud of dust and her cherry scent in her wake. Joaquin gaped after her in a stupor, until he remembered our presence. He collected himself, and cast a scathing glare at the three of us.
"Right. Back to the stable. Immediately. All of you."
I obeyed almost as quickly as Sammi and Julissa, not wanting to risk Joaquin's ire when he was in such a foul mood. He relieved himself of us with haste, slamming the stable door with such force the entire structure shook.
In the silence of the stable, all the thoughts I had been holding back came flooding in.
"I can't believe Clyde's gone."
"They got Teresa, too," Julissa added softly.
"Yeah, and Derek," Sammi scoffed with a roll of her eyes. "That's battle. People die."
She skulked off to the back right corner of the stable and buried herself in a pile of straw. She turned on her side, facing the wall, and blankly dragged her nails across the boards.
As much as I wanted to curl up in straw as well, I couldn't move. I was frozen to the spot, my mind fixated on Clyde's final moments. It replayed over and over again in my mind.
My fault, my fault...
If only I had acted sooner. If only I had been more aggressive. If only I'd given a better warning. I could've stopped it. Castigations played in my mind on a never-ending loop.
But nothing could bring Clyde back. My closest friend in this hell had been taken from me.
I buried my head in my hands and started to sob.
